Bagen Law Blog

Early Saturday morning, a single vehicle accident resulted in the death of a 20 year old woman from Silver Springs Shores.  Kendall Sidle’s vehicle veered off the road and onto the shoulder as she was traveling east on Southeast 110th Road.  After veering off the road for unknown reasons, Kendall overcorrected in an attempt to get back onto the road, and as her tires dug into the ground, her vehicle overturned and ejected her from the vehicle.  Kendall was not wearing her seatbelt.

Last Saturday, two people tragically lost their lives in an accident on Interstate 75 in Ocala, Florida while another died later that day.  At approximately 1:40 p.m., Chelsea Richard, a nine year veteran with Florida Highway Patrol, responded to the scene of a two car traffic crash on I-75. Richard called for a tow truck to remove the vehicles.  

A holiday weekend is the perfect time for a brief getaway. Since Memorial Day is the kick off to the summer season, it's a great time to get out on the boat. But unfortunately, fun and games can turn to tragedy in the blink of an eye. No one wants to think that they will ever experience that kind of tragedy first hand, but it can happen. Boating accidents can happen to anyone. If it does happen to you, you need to take the right steps to protecting yourself and getting the care and compensation that you deserve.

Courtney Sanders was on her way to work last Thursday morning when she decided to take “selfies” and post them to her Facebook page.  She then posted a status to Facebook saying “The happy song makes me HAPPY”. That statement was posted at 8:33 a.m. and at 8:34 a.m. operators received a 911 call stating that Courtney’s car had crossed the median and slammed into a truck causing it to strike a tree. Fortunately the driver of the truck was not seriously injured. 

Last Saturday night, around 10:00 p.m. a drunk driver struck and injured a bicyclist who has been identified as Ali Lauren Brody, 21, of Gainesville.   Ali was riding her bicycle on West University Avenue when Kirtley Stephen Davis, 21,  slammed into her.  Davis then fled the scene of the accident and turned onto Southwest 13th Street where he struck a vehicle stopped for a traffic light at Museum Road.  Davis’ blood alcohol level was between .308 and .313 which is almost four times the legal limit in Florida.  Davis was arrested and charged with misdemeanor DUI, DUI with serious bodily injury and failure to stop or remain at a crash involving injury which is a third degree felony in the State of Florida.   

It is always important to be very conscientious when driving in inclement weather. An issue that may ordinarily be small can cause a big disaster. Good driving habits in harsh weather are necessary to avoidaccidents for short or long trips. Whether you're a driver of a motorcycle, big rig or anything in between, reviewing safety information is a good idea for drivers of all ages. Inclement weather should not be taken lightly.

As we drive up and down I-75 on our daily commutes, we see far too many accidents happening. Unfortunately, many of those accidents are ending in fatalities. In 2010, Florida’s stretch of the national interstate was voted as the 15th deadliest highway in the country. Gainesville and other central Florida drivers have been demanding for modifications to be made to I-75 and sadly, it has taken a countless amount of accident victims to really steer attention towards the issue. The imperative question on the minds of all of Florida’s I-75 drivers is … what is being done to solve the problems with I-75?

Boating Tips

A day out on a boat can be a lot of fun. However, you need to remember to boat carefully and responsibly.Boating accidents are often caused by negligence and careless operation. While you and your friends are enjoying your Florida spring break, keep in mind these safe boating tips:

• Never operate a boat while under the influence
• Obey speeding zones
• Don't operate a boat recklessly
• Don't cause large wakes in calm areas
• Keep a safe distance between boats
• Keep a look out for people in the water